Attendance

Overview

Richardson ISD Attendance Matters
The Attendance Improvement and Truancy Reduction program, assists schools in creating a culture of attendance to ensure district compliance with mandates from the state of Texas governing student non-attendance.

Mission Statement

The Student Services Department is committed to serving the students of Richardson ISD by removing barriers which prevent students from attending school. We work collaboratively with students, families, schools, community stakeholders and district resources to improve attendance and enhance student success.

Attendance Matters

Regular attendance in elementary school is a strong predictor of grade-level performance. Attending school regularly helps students feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn that going to school on time, and every day, is important.

  • Starting in kindergarten, missing about 18 days, or 10 percent of the school year, can make it harder to learn to read. That equates to missing just a day or two days every few weeks.
  • Students who are frequently absent in kindergarten are less prepared than peers for first grade and often struggle to read on grade level through elementary school.
  • Absences add up in elementary school. Research shows that missing 18 days in a school year or 2 days every month can result in lower test scores and possible retention in later grades.
  • By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism is one of the three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
  • By freshman year, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than eighth-grade test scores.

FAQs

The Texas State Compulsory Attendance Law requires students aged 6 through 19 to attend school. Section 25.085 requires students to go to school each school day for the entire school day unless exempted by law. This requirement includes students who have voluntarily enrolled in prekindergarten or kindergarten and students who are 19 or older.

Students who violate this law may receive referrals for court proceedings against the parent, guardian or student to enforce the law.

Violation of the law occurs when students get unexcused absences for 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period.

  1. You can ask your child’s campus for an attendance report to review routinely.
  2. Students and parents can monitor attendance records in Focus. Please click here to sign into RISD Focus. In addition, parents can sign up to receive notifications from Focus.

RISD  policy mandates parents submit an excuse note to the school attendance office within three days of returning to school.

Excuse notes, which can be an email, must include:

  • Student name
  • Student ID number
  • A written statement giving the date and reason for the absence
  • Parent or guardian signature for handwritten notes only
  • Parent phone number

When sickness or other obligation necessitates an absence, a note signed by the parent/guardian explaining the reason for the absence is required. If a student fails to submit a note, the absence will be considered unexcused. Richardson ISD encourages students to submit an excuse note within three days of the student’s return to school.

It is very important to send a note because the absence will be unexcused if a parent/guardian fails to provide a note within the semester in which the absence occurred. Unexcused absences are what triggers the warning letters regarding violation of truancy laws and can lead to truancy court proceedings with Dallas County.

  • Child’s illness or injury
  • Family emergency with administrator approval
  • Death of a family member
  • Doctor or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled before or after school hours
  • Religious holidays
  • Court appearances

Please note: If a student is absent, Parents should always submit an excuse note to the main office when the student returns to school. Excuse notes should have student name, grade, date of absence, reason, and parent signature.

We are sure you are aware of how important it is that your child receive a quality education. However, you may be unaware that under the laws of the State of Texas it is your duty as the parent/guardian to monitor your child’s attendance and make sure he/she attends school each and every day, for the full instructional day. This also includes ensuring the student arrives to school on time, attends each class period and avoid as much as possible early releases/pick-ups from school unless there is an extreme emergency.

When a student is absent from school Parents/Guardians should submit a written explanation, also known as an excuse note, to the school. This should be done within three school days following the student’s return to school.

For information on how to monitor your child’s attendance, grades, and etc. Please click here to sign up for RISD Focus. In addition, parents can sign up to receive notifications from Focus.

Automated phone calls will be placed to parents or guardians notifying them when a student has been marked absent. It is the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility to ensure that they provide current and up-to-date contact information to the school.

The school district will also provide attendance information on a child’s report card to monitor the student’s school attendance. For up-to-the minute attendance information parents/guardians can view their student’s attendance record in Focus.

If a student has been absent without excuse on three days or parts of three days within a four-week period, the school district shall issue a warning notice to inform the parent of their duty to monitor the student’s school attendance and require the student to attend school; and the student is subject to truancy-prevention measures in addition to other statutory requirements in existence; and a request for a conference between school officials and the parents will be made to discuss the absences.

Further, if a student is absent without excuse on 10 or more days or parts of 10 or more days within a six-month period in the same school year, the district may file truancy court proceedings against the parents or guardians and the student for violation of the Texas Compulsory Attendance Law.

The Texas State Compulsory Attendance Law, Section 25.085, requires all enrolled students to attend school on time, all day, every day school is in session.

Violation of the law occurs when students get unexcused voluntary absences for 10 or more days or parts of 10 or more days within a six-month period. The Richardson Independent School District requires an explanation note to excuse an absence. Parents or guardians will receive a warning letter from the school when a student has been absent without an excuse three times for any part of the day in a four-week period.

Students who violate the law may receive a referral for court proceedings against the parent or guardian and the student to enforce the law. Students over the age of 19 may be withdrawn by the school for excessive unexcused absences.

If you receive a notice, take steps to avoid future unexcused absences and schedule a conference with campus staff to understand how the absences occurred.

If you have any concerns regarding the accuracy of your student’s attendance, please contact the school’s attendance office.

Contact Us

For more information about Attendance, contact Cecilia Galvan at cecilia.galvan@risd.org.

Elementary

CampusSDS or Attendance Secratary Email Phone Number 
AikinDorothy SmithDorothy.Smith@risd.org469-593-1754
ArapahoWendy DrabekWendy.Drabek@risd.org469-593-6456
Audelia CreekKim ValdezKimberly.Valdez@risd.org469-593-2941
Audelia CreekEmily RiveraEmily.Rivera@risd.org469-593-2905
Big SpringsRachel JohnsonRachel.Johnson2@risd.org469-593-8112
BowieSunshine MossaSunshine.Mossa@risd.org469-593-6040
BrentfieldCindy Clatt (4-6)Cindy.Clatt@risd.org469-593-5730
BrentfieldJulie Hanes (KG-3)Julie.Hanes@risd.org469-593-5740
BukhairDeborah Ramirez (3-6)Deborah.Ramirez@risd.org469-593-4910
BukhairTiffany Davila (PK-2)Tiffany.Davila@risd.org469-593-4866
Canyon CreekHeather AlsupHeather.Alsup@risd.org469-593-6515
DartmouthMendasia GuesbyMendasia.Guesby@risd.org469-593-8407
Dobie Pre-KinderAraceli GonzagaAraceli.Gonzaga@risd.org469-593-4014
DoverMonica MartinMonica.Martin@risd.org469-593-4186
Forest Lane AcademyElvira Fletcher (PK-2)Elvira.Fletcher@risd.org469-593-1903
Forest Lane AcademyErika SolisErika.Solis@risd.org469-593-1905
ForestridgeDeborah CageDeborah.Cage@risd.org469-593-8504
Greenwood HillsPam LoganPam.Logan@risd.org469-593-6075
Hamilton Park(TBD)TBD469-593-3856
Hamilton ParkBarbara TrujilloBarbara.Trujillo@risd.org469-593-3870
HeightsSue ParsonsSue.Parsons@risd.org469-593-4412
Jess HarbenLizbeth (Liz) MorletLizbeth.Morlet@risd.org469-593-8831
Lake Highlands ElemNancy SaavedraNancy.Saavedra@risd.org469-593-2074
Mark TwainAbigail (Abby) GuadarramaAbigail.Guadarrama@risd.org469-593-4802
Merriman ParkSheila PenalozaSheila.Penaloza@risd.org469-593-2796
MohawkHeather FlaneryHeather.Flanery@risd.org469-593-6607
Moss HavenCourtney BoudreauxCourtney.Boudreaux@risd.org469-593-2209
MST MagnetErika MonkErika.Monk@risd.org469-593-7390
NorthlakeRoshonda GilbertRoshonda.Gilbert@risd.org469-593-2308
NorthrichNancy Medina NeriNancy.MedinaNeri@risd.org469-593-6215
Northwood HillsSadaf RamzanSadaf.Ramzan@risd.org469-593-4251
O. HenryAlicia AvilaAlicia.Avila@risd.org469-593-8183
Prairie CreekKaron RippetoeKaron.Rippetoe@risd.org469-593-6301
PrestonwoodLynn O'BrienLynn.OBrien@risd.org469-593-6704
RichlandFelisha JacobsFelisha.Jacobs@risd.org 469-593-4698
RISD AcademyMary HurtadoMary.Hurtado@risd.org469-593-3302
RISD AcademyRaysa LoskotRaysa.Loskot@risd.org469-593-3343
SkyviewSamantha GonzalesSamantha.Gonzales@risd.org469-593-2411
SkyviewDanielle Donaldson (3-6, DEP)Danielle.Donaldson@risd.org469-593-2424
SkyviewMayra Duran (PK)Mayra.Duran@risd.org469-593-2397
Spring CreekGamze IbayGamze.Ibay@risd.org469-593-4451
Spring ValleyJocelyn CastilloJocelyn.Castillo@risd.org469-593-4616
SpringridgeAmy BemisAmy.Bemis@risd.org469-593-8609
Stults RoadKimberly ResendezKimberly.Resendez@risd.org469-593-2524
TerraceIris PerryIris.Perry@risd.org469-593-8774
Thurgood MarshallAndrea Escobar (PK, 1-3)Andrea.Escobar@risd.org469-593-6811
Thurgood MarshallArlene CarawayArlene.Caraway@risd.org469-593-6803
WallaceJerry Howell (K, 1-3)Jerry.Howell@risd.org469-593-2602
WallaceDelia Jimenez (PK, 4-6)Delia.Jimenez@risd.org469-593-2627
White RockMarcy Taylor (3-6)Marcy.Taylor@risd.org469-593-2669
White RockLori Jones (ECSE, PK-2, DLC)Lori.Jones@risd.org469-593-2713
YaleKaren WilesKaren.Wiles@.risd.org469-593-8303

Junior High

CampusSDS or Attendance Secratary Email Phone Number 
Apollo JHLaToya BrownLatoya.Brown@risd.org469-593-7905
Forest Meadow JHBrittney ThorntonBritney.Thornton@risd.org469-593-1460
Lake Highlands JHBarbara BlachlyBarbara.Blachly@risd.org469-593-1664
Liberty JHDarlene PriceDarlene.Price@risd.org469-593-7839
North JHJan MaxwellJan.Maxwell@risd.org469-593-5426
Parkhill JHMary HoffMary.Hoff@risd.org469-593-5581
Richardson West JHLeslie LopezLeslie.LopezRivera@risd.org469-593-3655
Westwood JHNana AndohNana.Andoh@risd.org469-593-3501

High School

CampusSDS or Attendance Secratary Email Phone Number 
Berkner HSLibby MooreLibby.Moore@risd.org469-593-7010
Berkner HSSemira BeshirSemira.Beshir@risd.org469-593-7154
Berkner HSTeresa LopezTeresa.Lopez@risd.org469-593-7061
JJ Pearce HSMirna Romero (9th)Mirna.Romero@risd.org 469-593-5214
JJ Pearce HSAlma Olguin (10th)Alma.Olguin@risd.org 469-593-5072
JJ Pearce HSMarina Velez (11th)Marina.Velez@risd.org 469-593-5060
JJ Pearce HSMichelle Coady (12th)Michelle.Coady@risd.org 469-593-5028
JJ Pearce HSCharlene UnderbrinkCharlene.Underbrink@risd.org 469-593-5089
Lake Highlands HSAmy Bickett Amy.Bickett@risd.org469-593-1022
Lake Highlands HSRoberto OrozcoRoberto.Orozco@risd.org469-593-1021
Richardson HSRosa Orozco (A-F 9th - 11th non-magnet)Rosa.Orozco@risd.org469-593-3095
Richardson HSDalia Resendiz (G-O 9th-11th non-magnet)Dalia.Resendiz@risd.org469-593-3011
Richardson HSCarol Ann Lemmond (P-Z 9th -11th non magnet)CarolAnn.Lemmond@risd.org469-593-3063
Richardson HSDedra Maxey (Magnet 9th-11th)Dedra.Maxey@risd.org469-593-3013
Richardson HSMaria Pickens (all Srs.)Maria.Pickens@risd.org469-593-3008
Richardson HSSenora Tunson Senora.Tunson@risd.org469-593-3121

Our Team

jason tharp

Dr. Jason Tharp

Director of Student Services
RHS Learning Community
jason.tharp@risd.org
469-593-0367

tony parker

Tony Parker

Student Services Administrator
LHHS Learning Community
anthony.parker@risd.org
469-593-0379

Demetra Sinnie

Demetra Sinnie

Student Services Administrator
BHS Learning Community
demetra.sinnie@risd.org
469-593-0048

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